PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A TIMELY SOLUTION FOR THE CONTROVERSIES IN SRI LANKAN HIGHER EDUCATION?

Abstract

Public universities in Sri Lanka face numerous financial difficulties, decrepit academic infrastructure, and slow-moving administrative protocols, making it challenging to compete with financially supported private educational facilities. Although Public-private partnerships offer a promising solution to the challenges faced by the higher education sector in Sri Lanka, the potential benefits and challenges of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Sri Lankan higher education remain subject to debate. This paper provides an overview of the potential benefits and challenges of public-private partnerships in higher education in Sri Lanka by carefully examining the concepts, theories, and lessons that can be learned from global experiences. It uses a secondary research approach to critically analyze public-private Partnerships in higher education with special reference to Sri Lanka. Among the potential benefits, upgrading facilities, fostering collaboration, the potential to address perceived inequalities, promoting greater diversity and inclusion, role in fostering innovation and responsiveness, adoption of new technologies and pedagogical approaches, enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, collaborative research projects, culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, internships, apprenticeships, and other forms of experiential learning were prominent. Despite the potential benefits, PPPs in higher education also pose several challenges that need to be carefully addressed. Exacerbating inequalities, commodification of higher education, increased tuition fees, and maintaining quality standards in PPPs require healthy regulatory frameworks, accreditation processes, and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the performance of private providers require careful attention. PPPs offer significant potential for enhancing higher education in Sri Lanka. To fully leverage the benefits of these partnerships while minimizing inherent risks, it is essential to establish a comprehensive and well-defined regulatory framework in a country that values free education.